Mining companies have villagers up in arms

Eighty one residents of the Sechaba and Skimml communities in the former homeland of Lebowa appeared in the Mawhelereng magistrate’s court on Wednesday on charges of participating in an illegal gathering. They were all arrested on Tuesday when they protested against a road project by Anglo Platinum’s Mokopane platinum mine.
The vilagers complain that they were promised people from their communities would be employed in the the building of the new road, but that the contractor that won the tender failed to employ any locals from the two vilages.
Meanwhile residents of Turf­spruit and Macalacaskop also in Lebowa reported the Canadian mining company, Platreef to the Human Rights Commission for drilling prospecting holes in their vilages and damaging their property.
Residents of these vilages say Platreef’s drilling and prospecting work has polluted their drinking water and has led to some people struggling with health issues.
Mokopane Lawyer, Emile Honiball, who represents community members in both cases say mining activities in the former homeland area is increasingly leading to civil unrest. “Frustration is mounting as people feel sidelined by the economic activities in areas they have always seen as their homes,” he explained.
Simultaneous to the events in Lebowa, people in Lephalale have 'boo-ed' president Jacob Zuma when he claimed 40% of the 17 000 people employed at the Medupi Power Station Project are from the Lephalale area. (See page 3). They, however, cheered Lephalale mayor, Jack Maeko, when he alleged unfair labour practices by some contractors working on the Medupi project. Maeko is known to be a close ally of Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale who, in the past, has shown support for the drive to nationalise SA’s mining sector.